• Rotary Year: 2019-2020
  • Application Date: 5/22/2019
  • Club Name (Primary): Rocky Mount
  • Club Name 2: Salem
  • Club Name 3: The Blue Ridge – New Generations
  • Club Name 4: Roanoke Valley (Roanoke)
  • Club Name 5: Roanoke-Downtown
  • Club Name 6: Roanoke
  • Other Club:Glenvar

    This will be a grant supported by every club in District 8. We are very proud to collaborate together for the benefit of our entire district. This agency has touched the lives of someone from across our entire region.
  • Project Name: Healing Strides Arena
  • Project Total Cost: $25,000.00
  • Grant Amount Requested: $12,000.00
  • Describe the Project, its location and its objectives: Expansion of outdoor arena located at Healing Strides of Virginia in Boones Mill just of VA Highway 220 between Roanoke and Franklin Counties. HSVA is looking to expand their outdoor arena so that it will be a more appropriate size for the many different programs that are offered at HSVA. Having the larger space and quality footing will benefit participants and horses by providing a more adequate space for all of the instructors to teach in. Programs are geared toward veterans, mental health, handicap, autism, and rehabilitation therapies and many more service trades.
  • Expected Start Date: 7/1/2019
  • Expected End Date: 12/1/2019
  • Expected Number of Beneficiaries: 73000
  • Describe how the project will benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate: This project will have a big impact not only on participants but the community as well. Healing Strides is an Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy Program (EAAT) which includes Therapeutic Riding, Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), Equine Assisted Psychotherapy EAP, Hippotherapy, and several other programs related to equine therapies. HSVA is the only Premier Accredited Center (PAC) with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding Int’l (PATH) in the Roanoke Valley. They also host the Ferrum College and Roanoke College Equestrian Teams. All of HSVA’s programs are integrated which gives participants an even playing field when they are on a horse.This new expanded arena would benefit ALL current programs, while also helping to further reach more of the community by allowing the ability to accommodate more riders.
  • Expected Total Project Volunteer Hours: 40
  • Describe the Rotarian hands-on activities in the project (i.e. non-financial participation): Rotarian teams will be removing the old fencing around the existing smaller arena. Also there will be teams to assist in adding new landscaping and updating signage.
  • Describe the publicity plan to inform the general public that this is a Rotary sponsored project: Media announcements will be held at the beginning of the project to dig in the golden shovels to begin the project with Rotarians onsite. Once the project begins a weekly report will be given to local newspapers, radio and social media pages. Club newsletters and social media will keep continuous reports. Once project is finished each club involved will have namesake banner hung around the arena and photograph sessions during grand opening celebration. Banners and signage will remain onsite.

    HSVA’s mission is: To promote wellness for people with personal challenges who can benefit from equine assisted activities and therapies in a safe and supportive environment.
  • Cooperating Organizations – Please list each cooperating organization, if any: Friends of Healing Strides, local parents and current participants in the programs will be assisting in the demolition and landscaping.
  • Letter(s) of Participation: Rocky_Mount_Collab_Healing_Strides_letter.pdf
  • Project Expenditure Budget – list detail uses of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload.Fencing Materials and Post Footers
    Excavation and Grading
    Landscape Materials
    Permanent Signage and Banners
    Bed underlay and Footing Material
    Total Project Expenditures $25,000
  • Project Funding Budget – list detail sources of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: Club Participation in $100 Ticket Sales for July 4th Celebration held annually.

    Ticket Sales Profit to be invested:
    Rocky Mount- $6000
    Roanoke Valley (Roanoke) $1000
    Glenvar $1000
    Roanoke-Downtown $3000
    The Blue Ridge-New Generations $500
    Roanoke E-club $400
    Salem $100
  • Budget Upload: Healing_Strides_Budget.xls
  • Primary Contact Name: Pamela Chitwood
  • Primary Contact Rotary Position: President Elect
  • Primary Contact Email: pamchitwood@hotmail.com
  • Primary Contact Phone: 5404891525
  • Financial Contact Name: Lisa Schenk
  • Financial Contact Rotary Position: Treasurer
  • Financial Contact Address: 
    3119 Pleasant Hill Road
    Rocky Mount, VA 24151
    United States View on Map
  • Financial Contact Email: lschenk98@aol.com
  • Financial Contact Phone: 5405375745
  • Project Authorization Form: Rocky_Mount_Collab_Proj_Auth_Ltr_Rev.pdf
  • Grant Number1920C-05
  • Grant Award$12,000.00